Food restriction and chronic stress alter energy use and affect immunity in an infrequent feeder

Abstract

Glucocorticoids are important mediators of energy utilization for key physiological processes, including immune function. Much work has focused on the effects of energy limitation and stress for key physiological processes such as reproduction and immunity. However, it is unclear how stress alters energy use across different energy states, and the physiological ramifications of such effects are even less clear. In this study, we altered energy and stress states of an infrequent feeder, the terrestrial gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans), using fasting and repeated restraint stress (chronic stressors) to test how these challenges interacted to affect immune function, energy metabolites and glucocorticoid reactivity (a traditional indicator of stress state) to restraint stress, a standardized, acute stressor. After this acute stressor, the snakes which had received chronic stress had increased glucocorticoid reactivity, and both treatments altered energy metabolite use and storage. Evidence of interaction of food restriction and chronic stress treatments on innate immune function and energy metabolites (triglycerides and glycerol) suggests that stress alters energy use in a manner dependent on the energy state of the animal. Snakes have a remarkable ability to maintain functionality of key physiological processes under stressful conditions but are still susceptible to multiple simultaneous stressors, a situation increasingly prevalent in our ever-changing environment.